Presidential candidate John Delaney speaks to supporters at the opening of his Des Moines field office Saturday.(Photo: Brianne Pfannenstiel/The Register)

About 50 people gathered Saturday afternoon to celebrate the opening of John Delaney's Des Moines field office — one of six planned across the state — as the former Maryland congressman continues to campaign aggressively in Iowa.

Surrounded by staffers — he's up to 24 people in Iowa — as well as fans and local activists, Delaney delivered his stump speech Saturday, answered questions and signed copies of his book, "The Right Answer: How We Can Unify Our Divided Nation," which he gave away to attendees.

That idea of unifying a divided country is central to Delaney's pitch to Iowans.

"I can go through all the specific policy proposals I have," he said. "But at the end of the day, you have to do it for moral reasons. You have to want to build a better future. You have to want to look at your citizens who are falling behind and support them. You have to want to live in a country where everyone has opportunity, where justice means something."

Delaney doesn't shy away from talking about Republican President Donald Trump, who he says "wakes up every day and divides us."

But when attendees ask about the president with derision and frustration, Delaney is careful to refocus the conversation to what he says he can bring to the race.

"We have to remember, we're not going to beat him in 2020 by just telling the American people how bad (Trump) is," Delaney said. "What we've got to do is tell people what we're going to do for them — what we're going to do for every single American."

Earlier Saturday, Delaney was in Cedar Rapids to celebrate the opening a field office there. On Friday, he held meet-and-greets in Dewitt and Tipton. He also delivered a presentation in Davenport.

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